This young gelding presented with weight loss and a toe dragging hind legged lameness. Notice the slight rise in the croup area and the buttress toed hind limbs. An interesting note is that he has been consuming the tails of his pasture mates. He is the only long haired horse remaining. We suspect a Phosphorous/Calcium deficiency leading to irregularities or injury to the lumbar region of the spine. Concurrent with this is a possible cecal hair ball accumulation.

October 4, 2011 update. This gelding was treated with calcium and phosphorus minerals, drenched with mineral oil, no cecal hair ball accumulation has been dislodged. Coordination is degrading, if the gelding is led over a rail and can see it, he will lift his feet over. If he is led over the same rail, unable to see the rail, he will stumble. Physical condition is slowly degrading.

Q:“Dolly, quarter horse mare, age 17, teeth & wormer up to date. She had access to fresh water, salt, mineral and large round mixed grass hay and combined barley straw which was supplemented with alfalfa hay when temperatures went below minus 20. Feed was consistently offered in 4 different locations. She had 2 pasture mates in 5 acres one winter, and then last winter she had 7 pasture mates in 35 acres. Both herd dynamic was calm and stable, no visible fighting, bite marks etc. She started to have weight fluctuations during the past 2 winters. Every 3 weeks she would noticeably drop weight even though she seemed to be consistent in her eating habits and volume. The weight drop was followed by another 3 weeks that saw her weight fluctuate back up. This past winter each weight drop was not quite made up fully before it fluctuated down again. I moved her out with another mare, feed them very good quality alfalfa feed in addition to mixed grass (free choice) but still saw the fluctuation. She bloomed on the spring grass and has looked good all summer. What is causing this weight fluctuation?

A:Gastric ulcers sure can cause a fluctuating weight loss situation in an other wise healthy animal. Sometimes winter stress is enough of a precipitator to make a horse that is prone to ulcers get ulcers. The best diagnostic means is by gastric ultrasound which can visualize the stomach and oesophagus and measure treatment success. Treatment is best done by alleviating stress and use of H+ ion blockers of which a number of very good products are available i.e. Gastroguard.

8 year old gelding reacted to IV injection of zylazine/torbogesic. He hived up immediately. He was then given epinephrine IM and sweated profusely for 30-40 minutes, and acted aggressively (normal behaviour is very calm) when placed with his long term penmate, a mare. Photo’s begin approximately 1-2 minutes after sedation was administered, end approximately 40 minutes later.

Q: My horse fell onto his knees last night in the crossties. Although he appears ok I'm concerned. Should I be calling my Vet to look at him?

A: Monitor for swelling and heat on the knees or any soundness issues. If there is any pain or swelling or cuts at all I’d get him checked out. Sometimes the simplest of wounds or scrapes can lead to a more complicated situation. (refer to Interesting Case # 4) . Trust your judgement and monitor him closely for the next few days.

Interesting Case #5 August 11, 2011...this is a 26 year old mare that scraped it’s hock which became greatly infected with a Strep sp. . The mare was kept on antibiotics for two weeks with lavage and surgical drainage but finally couldn’t stand and was euthanized.

This four year old gelding was presented with swelling and difficulty peeing. Initially we thought he had been kicked but at sedation a Loonie sized kidney/bladder stone was removed from his urethra, at the end of his penis. This gelding may have to have his penis amputated, we are treating him conservatively and are still hopeful.

October 4, 2011 update

This four year old gelding recovered very well. Recently he began exhibiting similar symptoms as before, the result was another huge stone removed from his penis. His diet and water source have been changed.

February 15, 2011

Dr. Domoslai here, I would like to update you on an interesting case. The bucking horse finally succumbed and on post-mortem had his entire kidneys and bladder were filled with large stones (approximately one gallon of material similar to the scale in a tea kettle)

“An interesting case of a strange manifestation of a congenital defect, Scoliosis of the spine and absence of eyes. The foal was up and vigorously sucking, following his mom but was humanely euthanized at a day old.”

A: Heat stress is a condition when the horse reaches a temperature above what it can normally thermo regulate i.e. by sweating breathing and otherwise cooling down.

Q:What causes/contributes to heat stress?

A: Heat and work and hydration status all contribute to heat stress.

Q:Is heat stress serious?

A: Heat stress can be serious if the condition is not recognized and corrected.

Q:How can I prevent heat stress?

A: First ensure that your horse is adequately hydrated before during and after working him. Make sure he is on a good balanced ration with adequate salts and minerals in his diet to compensate for that loss by sweating. Free choice salt is essential for the horse to manage his salt levels. If conditions are severe or you want to be absolutely sure your horse is hydrated fully an electrolyte solution can be given to him prior to and after working. Just like the Gatorade adds state proper hydration with water and electrolytes before throughout and after workout.

Q: How is heat stress treated?

A: If your horse is heat stressed it is imperative to stop working him. Cool him down as soon as possible with wet blankets or hosing him down. Supply small frequent drinks of water but do not let him gorge on water. I like a gallon every half hour for two hours then if he is stable allow free access to water. Walk him slowly to prevent cramping of the muscles and get him into a cool breezy location. If the horse is going into heat stress shock or is looking like he is not responding, get veterinary attention as quickly as possible.

In severe heat stress an intravenous electrolyte solution may be used but usually electrolytes added to the water are sufficient.

Q: My OTTB bowed a tendon at 3. He was given two years off and was hand walked and turned out in a small field. I purchased him at 5 with no soundness issues, and the bow had healed so that it was barely noticeable.

He is now 10. We are jumping 2'9 - 3'0 and still having no lameness issues.

I use either polo wraps or woof wear brushing boots when jumping. In terms of prevention, should I be leaving his legs bare? Are boots or polos better?

Could I use boots like Eskadrons on him or should I stick to the softer ones with no shell? Thanks!

A: With a history of bowed tendon I'd likely keep him good and wrapped whenever you are working him, the added support might be what he needs. The Eskadorns are great and you can get some good form fitting boots that will last a long time and hold up to all conditions. Although it's been seven years without an flare up it certainly is safe to keep him wrapped and you have obviously being doing well with what your using so sometimes why fix something if it doesn't need fixing.